Community Corner

Some Asphalt Laid, Concrete Work in Progress: Penn Avenue Reconstruction Update

The first phase of the reconstruction began in April and is expected to last the entirety of the 2013 construction season.

Meyer Construction and City of Minneapolis crews are still hard at work on the Penn Avenue South reconstruction project.

The following are recent completions on the project:

  • Meyer has completed the construction of storm sewers at the intersection of West 60th and Penn Avenue.
  • On June 22 the city placed asphalt between West 60th and 58th streets and between West 55th and 54 ½ streets.
  • Throughout the week the city has been doing concrete work between 58th and 55th streets.
  • The city has installed street light foundations between 58th and 60th streets. New signal foundations continue to be installed on the project.
  • CenterPoint Energy removed the abandoned gas main south of 60th Street.

This is what crews will be working on starting the week of July 1:

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  • Meyer will finish all soil corrections and prepare the roadway for asphalt paving between 60th to 62nd streets.
  • On June 29 the city will continue forming and pouring concrete driveway aprons, bus pads and curb and gutter patches between 58th and 55th streets.
  • On June 30 the city will be installing the signal crossings at 60th Street, pouring signal foundations on the east side of 58th Street and Penn Avenue, and will finish installing conduit between 56th and 58th streets. The traffic crews will continue to place conduit and light foundations on Monday through Wednesday.
  • On July 3 and July 6 the city is tentatively scheduled to continue paving on the project.
  • On July 8 Meyer will begin the removals on the 54th Street end of the project. The intersection of 54th and Penn Avenue. will be closed for removals and utility work. Alternate access to the 54th Street businesses will be from the south on Penn Avenue.

The following is more information from public works:

Sprinkler Systems, Boulevard Gardens or Hardscape in Public Right of Way

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Residents should remove any irrigation systems, landscaping stones or bricks, and salvage special plantings located on city right of way.

Concrete Cure Time

Following the asphalt placement between the midblock of 5400 and West 56th Street; new concrete curb and gutter, driveway aprons and bus pads will be placed. Once these concrete structures are poured they will be blocked off to allow the fresh pavement to cure. If the approach to your driveway is on Penn Ave., we will notify you in advance of placing your new driveway approach and ask you to park at another location until the new concrete has attained sufficient strength. Once your driveway is ready to use, a gravel ramp will be placed in front of it.

Trash and Recycling

No changes will be made to the pick-up locations of garbage and recycling collected by the city. Businesses that have private vendors collect their trash should advise their vendor of the upcoming construction.

Traffic

I have received some calls of concern regarding cars trying to circumvent the detour route and ending up at dead ends. We have added traffic control to these locations with the hope of thwarting some of this traffic.

There has also been some concern about the backups on Xerxes Avenue. The City is working with the City of Edina to get the barricades removed between 60th and 62nd streets so an extra south bound lane will be available.


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